Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Unnecessary Ambulance Calls
Author Information
Author(s): Kawakami Chihiro, Ohshige Kenji, Kubota Katsuaki, Tochikubo Osamu
Primary Institution: Yokohama City University School of Medicine
Hypothesis
What socioeconomic factors influence the decision to call an ambulance in nonemergency situations?
Conclusion
Several socioeconomic factors, including age, gender, household income, and car ownership, significantly influence the decision to call an ambulance in nonemergency situations.
Supporting Evidence
- Male respondents were more likely to call an ambulance in nonemergency situations.
- Elderly individuals were more likely to state they would call an ambulance compared to younger individuals.
- Possession of a car negatively influenced the decision to call an ambulance.
- Hesitation to use an ambulance was a significant factor limiting calls.
Takeaway
Some people call ambulances when they don't really need to, and things like how old you are or if you have a car can change that.
Methodology
A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted among residents of Yokohama, Japan, analyzing responses using a probit model.
Potential Biases
Potential non-response bias and the possibility that those who frequently call ambulances may not have participated.
Limitations
The study used hypothetical scenarios and may not represent actual ambulance call behavior; the response rate was 60%, which could introduce bias.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 911 males (44.9%) and 1,112 females (54.8%), with a range of ages and household incomes.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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